Now that you understand the process behind implementing your NDIS Plan:
- Focus on Goals
- Decide who you need to support you
- Connect with a support team
- Start receiving services from amazing providers
If you missed this article, check out Getting Started with Your NDIS Plan!
Now, let’s discuss the different funding allocations in your plan.
NDIS funding is made up of three main support categories:
- Core Supports
- Capacity Building Supports
- Capital Supports
The type of funding allocated to an NDIS plan is determined by your age and support needs. If you’d like to understand how Core Supports fit into your NDIS plan and which section your providers are paid from, this is a must read.
Let’s get started.
NDIS Funding – Core Supports
Core Supports are made up of three sub-support categories
- Daily Activities (01)
- Social & Community Participation (04)
- Consumables (03)
- Transport (02)
Within these sub-support categories there are a range ‘service types’ (we call line items). And, line item rates are governed by the NDIS Price Guide.
Daily Activities
Daily Activities are usually services delivered within and around the home environment (but not limited to the home). These services are usually related to personal care or self-care services. Here’s a list of the most commonly used Daily Activities ‘service types’:
- Self-care support – supporting someone with personal tasks of daily life eg.
- Showing
- Dressing
- Cooking
- Feeding
- House cleaning
- House & yard maintenance
- Preparation and delivery of meals
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- Short Term Accommodation (STA)
- Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
- Specialised Home Based Assistance For A Child
- Home Nursing Support
- Health related therapeutic services
Social & Community Participation
Social & Community Participation services are supports delivered within the community or in a pre-arranged centre. Services can be delivered one on one, or in a group environment.
- Community and Social activity support costs
- Group Based Supports
Consumables
Consumables are everyday use items that have features that address a specific limitation. Here are a few examples:
- Continence aids (nappies & pads)
- HEN products
- Low Risk, Low Cost AT (Assistive Technology) under $1,500. ‘Off the shelf’ items that you need little or moderate help setting up. Examples include:
- Non-slip bathmats
- Doorbells
- Hand rails
- Portable ramps
- Replacement mobility cane
- Seat walkers
- Bed protection
- Talking watch
- Long-handled grip equipment
- Specialty kitchen cutlery for daily living
- Large print calendars
- Alert systems or personal alarms
- Simple bathing devices
- Shower chair and transfer bench
- Car transfer pads
- Disc’s that swivel
- Adjustable upright seating chairs
- Orthotic footwear, stockings and knee sleeves
- Visual aids – communication boards or books
- Kitchen trolley’s or stools
- Changes to your laundry or washing line
- Communication Apps
Ideas for kids with ASD:
- Communication and social story apps/books
- Timers
- Visual aid boards & Visual aid makers
- (weighted blankets need NDIA approval)
Please ensure you touch base with your Occupational Therapist for recommendations before purchasing equipment for your child. Some equipment may be considered ‘high risk’ even though it’s ‘low cost’.
If you’re unsure what type of equipment would suit your needs, please ask your Allied Health Professional for advice and recommendations!
iPads and Laptops are considered everyday items and not covered under consumables. For more information on iPads, check out this Q&A on the NDIS website Are iPads approved in a Plan.
Please note: The NDIA released new information on 27th April allowing participants to purchase AT equipment (up to $750) to access Allied Health Services under COVID-19 conditions if:
- it will maintain funded NDIS supports like a program, therapy or requirement (for example physiotherapy or Auslan interpreting provided via video conferencing), and
- the provider of supports has confirmed in writing the device is necessary to continue supports and services while maintaining physical distancing requirements, and
- it is the lowest specification that will maintain funded supports, and
- they do not already have the item, another suitable item or access to the item, and
- the item has not been funded by another service system (such as education), and
- the item or circumstances are not specifically excluded.
For more information check out the NDIS website Low Cost Assistive Technology for Support Continuity during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Weighted blankets are also NOT covered under consumables. They are considered high risk and need an OT (Occupational Therapy) assessment and NDIA approval before purchase. For more information you can download the Assistive Technology Level 1 & 2 Booklet.
Transport
Transport is considered the vehicle fees and costs (including taxi fees) to transport you (or your child) to and from community services or activities. These costs could include, parking fees, road tolls and vehicle running costs (eg, petrol and car maintenance).
Transport costs are usually charged at a c’s/km rate. The NDIS Price Guide outlines reasonable costs for Transport to be:
- Up to $0.85/km for a vehicle that is not modified
- Up to $2.40/km for a modified vehicle or bus
Transport does not include your support workers time to accompany you, just the additional vehicle costs. Your support workers time to transport you (or your child) in the community, is charged at the negotiated hourly rate.
Some providers will also charge you ‘Travel’ time. Travel is the time it takes your support worker to travel from their usual place of business (which could be their home), to your home to support you, or pick you up for your community activity. The NDIS Price Guide allows support workers to charge you up to 30 minutes travel time to fulfil their service obligations.
Travel is claimed from the Social & community support budget, not the Transport budget. It’s charged at an hourly rate and is considered the support workers time, not a vehicle cost.
These four Core Support sub-categories are fully flexible. This means, you can move funds between the sub-categories to top up the areas you use the most. Core Supports are the ONLY major support category where you can move funds between sub-categories. Pretty Cool!!
If you have more in home or self-care types of services, you can load up your Daily Activities support budget with most of your funds. If you’re finding your community access supports are way higher than other categories, you can allocate more money there.
You don’t have to decide in advance where to allocate your funding, and if you use our plan management services, we’ll probably estimate and apportion funds to each category available. Then, as services kick in, move funds where they’re needed the most!
I truly hope this information has helped you understand how your support team services will be funded through your Core Support. If you’re still super confused or would like to share your own insights, please leave a comment below. Your question or feedback may support our community more than you know!
Much love
Jude x
My daughter is born with blindness, so I’m thinking of getting her an NDIS plan soon to help improve the quality of her life. I appreciate you telling us that the type of funding allocated to an NDIS plan depends on the age and support needed, so it’s best to understand this to maximize your benefits. I’ll keep this in mind while I look for disability services to call for help for NDIS plan management soon.